What Skin says About General Health
Our skin is best protection for us. It can be a window to our health. Many underlying disease -- some very serious -- first show up on the skin.
Butterfly Rash
A butter fly rash across the face is often the first sign of lupus.
However, it could be rosacea, or it could be contact dermatitis.
Velvet Plaques
Velvety plaques in the neck and/or in the armpit suggest diabetes.
This condition -- acanthosis nigricans -- could be benign or be caused by obesity.
Rarely it may appear at other place like hands or lips and may indicate an internal cancer.
Leg Plaque: Red on Edge, Gold in Center
Medical term for this condition is necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. As the name suggests, it's a distinctive sign of diabetes. First appearance of this condition is dull reddish patch which later on changes to shinier with in the center and with a distinct border. Sometime the affected skin may crack and become itchy or painful.
Itchy, Violet Bumps on Wrist
This is a rash which is reddish-purple, flat topped and usually appear at wrists or ankles but may also be present in the mouth or lower back, neck, leg or genitals. It itches intensely. Cause is not known but may be due to Hepatitis C.
Flesh Colored, Orange-Peel Patches on Back
Shagreen patches are flesh colored lesions present on the lower back and have texture of an orange peel.They often occur with other skin sign: red or brown acne-like bumps spreading across cheek and nose; and ash-leaf spots of under-pigmented skin, most often on trunk, that are oval at one end and pointy at the other. These are signs of a rare genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis that causes benign tumor to grow in brain and other vital organs.
Tripe Palms
A condition in which the skin of palm becomes velvety-white and thick with pronounced folds in the lines of hands. The skin resembles boiled tripe. About 90% cases can be linked to cancer. If only palms are involved, it may likely be lung cancer. If tripe palm is accompanied by acanthosis nigricans, it's more likely stomach cancer.
'Wooden' Hand and Feet
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis which is a kidney disease starts as a brown discoloration and indentation of the lower arms and legs. Very soon, the hands and feet become brown and like wood. Sometimes there is also a yellow spot in the eye. Recently it is found that the dye used in MRI examination triggers this condition.
Scaly Rash on Buttocks, Red Tongue
This is a rare condition usually occuring in elderly, characterized by red scaly rash sometimes
with eroding the skin. Its name is necrolytic migratory erythema. It tends to start at the folds of buttocks or palms, but it could be found anywhere. It is usually accompanied by a red, painful tongue. The condition usually signals a pancreatic tumor, usually a glucogonoma.
Not All Skin Condition Scary
It is not necessary that most skin condition are dangerous. Some condition do not indicate any thing wrong with the body. Granuloma annulare is an example. It is a raised, red or flesh-colored bumps forming a ring pattern, usually present on feet or hand. They do not mean any thing and usually go away within two years. However, if it is widespread it may last longer.
Our skin is best protection for us. It can be a window to our health. Many underlying disease -- some very serious -- first show up on the skin.
Butterfly Rash
However, it could be rosacea, or it could be contact dermatitis.
This condition -- acanthosis nigricans -- could be benign or be caused by obesity.
Rarely it may appear at other place like hands or lips and may indicate an internal cancer.
Leg Plaque: Red on Edge, Gold in Center
Medical term for this condition is necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. As the name suggests, it's a distinctive sign of diabetes. First appearance of this condition is dull reddish patch which later on changes to shinier with in the center and with a distinct border. Sometime the affected skin may crack and become itchy or painful.
Itchy, Violet Bumps on Wrist
This is a rash which is reddish-purple, flat topped and usually appear at wrists or ankles but may also be present in the mouth or lower back, neck, leg or genitals. It itches intensely. Cause is not known but may be due to Hepatitis C.
Flesh Colored, Orange-Peel Patches on Back
Shagreen patches are flesh colored lesions present on the lower back and have texture of an orange peel.They often occur with other skin sign: red or brown acne-like bumps spreading across cheek and nose; and ash-leaf spots of under-pigmented skin, most often on trunk, that are oval at one end and pointy at the other. These are signs of a rare genetic disease called tuberous sclerosis that causes benign tumor to grow in brain and other vital organs.
Tripe Palms
A condition in which the skin of palm becomes velvety-white and thick with pronounced folds in the lines of hands. The skin resembles boiled tripe. About 90% cases can be linked to cancer. If only palms are involved, it may likely be lung cancer. If tripe palm is accompanied by acanthosis nigricans, it's more likely stomach cancer.
'Wooden' Hand and Feet
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis which is a kidney disease starts as a brown discoloration and indentation of the lower arms and legs. Very soon, the hands and feet become brown and like wood. Sometimes there is also a yellow spot in the eye. Recently it is found that the dye used in MRI examination triggers this condition.
Scaly Rash on Buttocks, Red Tongue
This is a rare condition usually occuring in elderly, characterized by red scaly rash sometimes
with eroding the skin. Its name is necrolytic migratory erythema. It tends to start at the folds of buttocks or palms, but it could be found anywhere. It is usually accompanied by a red, painful tongue. The condition usually signals a pancreatic tumor, usually a glucogonoma.
Not All Skin Condition Scary
It is not necessary that most skin condition are dangerous. Some condition do not indicate any thing wrong with the body. Granuloma annulare is an example. It is a raised, red or flesh-colored bumps forming a ring pattern, usually present on feet or hand. They do not mean any thing and usually go away within two years. However, if it is widespread it may last longer.
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